You hear that layoffs are coming. Someone is called to
supervisor’s office. Word travels through workplace. Fear creeps in.It is said that, in times of drought, animals down at watering hole look at each other differently. Are folks looking at each other differently at your water cooler?
Your body has a mind of its own. When it senses fear, it immediately goes into a protective mode. Your shoulders move towards your earlobes. Your digestion slows down. You become hyper-vigilant. Your hands and feet become cold as blood rushes to protect vital organs. When this happens, blood also leaves your brain. In fact, it first leaves frontal lobes whose job is associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem solving. Great! Just what you need is first to go!
Knowing this, then, it is imperative that you ‘keep your head about you’ in tense times. Easy to say! Fortunately, not so difficult to do. Here are some suggestions—no, really, imperatives—for triumphing in tense times.* ______________________
BE POSITIVELY SELFISH ______________________
Take very good care of yourself. This is important at all times, however, it is essential in tense times. Do these five things every day, without fail:
1. Often throughout your day, breathe deeply in through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth five times. This is best mini-vacation on planet. You’ll notice that your shoulders naturally relax as you exhale through your mouth. The increase of oxygen to your brain is also appreciated.
2. Go for a walk for, at least, thirty minutes each day. Breathe well and relax your body. This is a time to enjoy beauty that you see. If you are walking in nature, see it there. If you are walking on a city street, see it in people you meet. Find it. If your mind begins to race, do #1 above and re-focus on what you are seeing.
3. Put your personal affairs in order. Clean your office, your space, your home, your closets. Doing things over which you have control is calming. Take back overdue library books. Pay fines. Return borrowed items. Write that letter you’ve been putting off. Make a will. Organize your finances.
4. Focus on your goals. What do you want to have accomplished one week, month or year from now? What are your plans for achieving these goals? What can you do pro-actively right now to move forward? Again, take control of what is in your control. This is important.
5. Eat nutritious foods. You know this and your mind will play tricks when you are tense. What you think of as comfort foods may be just things that increase your discomfort. Sugars, for instance, seem comforting, however, they can contribute to a feeling of depression. Sure, many folks think that coffee keeps them going when things are tough. It may give them that illusion. Coffee is not only a stimulant but also a diuretic. That means it is taking vital water from your cells just when you need it most. It creates tension…and desire for another cup!
